RON JOHNSON 
WISCONSIN 
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The Honorable Tom Wheeler 
Chairman 
Federal Communications Commission 
445 12th Street, SW 
Washington, DC 20554 
Dear Chairman Wheeler: 
WASHINGTON, OC 20510 
May 8, 2014 
Rk:'•.'ed & Inspected 
j·,, ' ' ' 2 201. 
FCC Ma,i Room 
COMMITTEES: 
BUDGET 
COMMERCE, SCIENCE 
AND TRANSPORTATION 
FOREIGN RELATIONS 
HOMELAND SECURITY AND 
GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS 
SMALL BUSINESS AND 
ENTREPRENEURSHIP 
I write today as a follow-up to a letter I signed earlier this week with forty-three of my Senate colleagues 
regarding the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and its reforms to the Universal Service 
Fund (USF). 
I support the policy outlined in the letter that would allow rural rate-of-return carriers to receive USF 
support for broadband-only subscribers in high-cost areas of the United States, provided that this policy 
would not result in an increase in the USF fee that consumers are charged as a line item on their 
telephone bills. Since the contribution factor is assessed quarterly and based on projected demand for 
Universal Service funding, a policy that better reflects market demand and reduces costs associated with 
building out and maintaining a service that consumers increasingly no longer want should not contribute 
to any increase in these projections. 
In 2011, I was pleased to see that the FCC, for the first time, set a definitive budget for the High Cost 
Program. As Commissioner McDowell explained in his statement to the order, "Functionally, the 
budget serves as an annual cap through 2017." In encouraging the FCC to address smaller carrier 
support mechanisms, I fully expect the FCC to continue operating within this budget. It is my hope that 
such a reform will ultimately result in a savings to the High Cost Program rather than any increased 
spending. 
Thank you for the opportunity to clarify this position and I appreciate your attention to this important 
issue. 
WASHINGTON OFFICE: 
328 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING 
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OsHKOSH, WI 54901 
(920) 230-7250 
http://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov 
MILWAUKEE OFFICE: 
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RooM 408 
MILWAUKEE, WI 53202 
(414) 276--7282